Monday, January 13, 2020

Update2: Some Saudis from CAFB

The shooting carried out by a Saudi military aviation student at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 6 was an “act of terrorism,” Attorney General William Barr said Jan. 13 as authorities released findings of an investigation into the attack that killed three U.S. service members and wounded eight. Barr said the gunman, identified as Saudi Arabian Air Force 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, was "motivated by jihadist ideology." He added that Alshamrani, during 2019's anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, posted a message online that said "the countdown has begun." Additionally, Barr indicated that 21 of some 850 Saudi military students in the U.S. were being expelled from the country back to Saudi Arabia to face its military justice system. (Source: Fox News 01/13/20) None of the Saudis targeted for expulsion is accused of aiding the shooter. UPDATE: The Pentagon said Jan. 13 that none of the Saudi nationals training in Jacksonville, Fla., were among the 21 being sent home. (Source: Action News Jax 01/13/20) There has been no information released on the number of Saudis training at NAS Pensacola that were among the 21. UPDATE2: Twelve Saudi military personnel, who were training aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., were among the 21 student-trainees across the U.S. that were sent home after a federal investigation found they were in possession of "derogatory" material. On Jan. 15, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) confirmed that 12 of those individuals had been training at NASP. A spokesperson for the Defense Department said it was not releasing any information about the unenrolled trainees at this time. (Source: News Journal 01/15/19) https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/01/15/12-of-21-expelled-saudi-trainees-came-from-nas-pensacola-gaetz-says/4482324002/ The other nine Saudi students removed were located at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Laughlin and Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force bases in Texas and Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. DoD transcript on subject https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/2060635/dod-background-briefing-on-international-military-student-review/

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